Suction cleaner



Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Nov. 16, 1937. D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed May 24, 1934 D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Nov. 16, 1937.

Filed May 24, 19521 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "lo," qs gal f1 15| f I INVENTOR' wila/dat Jmellf@ f@ WM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 16, 1937l UNITED STATES s Uc'rioN CLEANER Donald G. smeme, canton, ohio, miglior to l'rms Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio `Application May 24, 1934, Serial No. 727.211

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-14) The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to a new and improved can-type cleaner provided with a permanent converter valve which functions to alter the f unit from a blowing unit to a suction unit, or vice versa. prises ,the combination of a can-type suction cleaner. an elongated dusting tool hose, a permanently incorporated converter valve, and sound-deadening means which reduce the noise of operation of the unit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner unit of the cantype. A further object is the provision of a cantype cleaner provided with 'a permanently incorporated converter valve. Another object is the provision of a can-type suction cleaner incorporating sound-deadening means. A further object is the provision of a can-type suction cleaner incorporating a sound-deadening muiiler. another object is the provision of a suction cleaner of the can-type in which a muiiler acts as the exhaust outlet when the machine functions as a suction-creating unit, andas the intake when the unit functions as a positive-pressure-creating unit. A still further object is the provision of a suction cleaner of the can-type in which the same dustingtool hose attachment is used in both blowing and in sucking. These and other more specific objects will appear up'on reading the following specifications and claims and upon considering in-connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 ls .a side elevation ofa suction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross section through the cleaner shown in Figure l, being' takenupon er upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

More specifically the invention com- Still with thevalve positioned in the blowing rela' tionship.

The present invention relates to that type of suction cleaner which includes a portable body comprising a suction-creating unit which need not 5 be moved over the surface covering in order to accomplish the cleaning operation. 'Ihis type of cleaner remains where placed while the cleaning nozzle, which is attached to the unitl by means of an elongated exible tubular hose, is moved over the surface covering to perform the cleaning function. The suction-creating unit normally employs skids to support it so that it can be moved or pulled by a force exerted through the tubular hose. In the cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention means have been provided to reduce the operating noise of the unit and A also to provide means for easily converting the unit from a suction-creating unit, the usual relationship, to a positive pressure or blowing unit. 2o

`Referring again tothe drawings, the cleaner is seen to embody and comprise a casing which is readily sub-dividedfinto three parts. The main central part of the casing is indicated by the reference character I. and comprises a plurality of 25 parts as will hereinafter be fully set forth. At one side of the body portion I is the motor casing 2 which is secured to a side wall of casing I by means of screws 3, 3, etc. At the other side of the main body casing I is a cylindrical can or container 4. The inner end of container 4 is removably secured to casing I by means of a manually opera- 1 ble latch 5 which cooperates with a seat 6 formed on the body portion I. A plurality of these latches and seats may be provided if necessary. The

. major axis of the cylindrical container 4 and,

of the mainbody portion I, and of the motor casing 2, are practically the sameand theA entire cleaner casing forms an elongated unit which is supported at a relatively small height above the supporting surface by means of a U- shaped skid 1 'the ends ofthe two arms of which attach to the main body portion I on its motor casing side and are curved downwardly and forwardly therefrom extending substantially the entire length of the cylindrical container 4.

The main body portion I is formed interiorly in a definite manner. An internal curved wall I0 extends substantially parallel to the wall of body I, is identical with the body wall at the bottom of the body, and is spaced therefrom to form chambers or pockets II, II which extend substantially the entire length of the body I. 'I'hese two chambers Il, II are open to atmosphere through two is positioned in wall 5 and opens into a down-V wardly and forwardly extending passageway I5. A suction-creating tan is positioned in the fan chamber, being rotatably carried by the extended end of the motor shaft I 5.

Thefcrward end of the body portion I, that end'facing the container I, is spaced from the transverse wall 8 and is formed with two radially spaced circular ilanges I1 and I8, the outer iiange I1 serving as a seat for the inner and open end of the container I. An arcuate sector of this forward wall is omitted between the flanges I1 and I8 which opens directly into the passageway Il leading to the fan chamber I3. The inner flange` Il denes an opening I8 into the casing I and to the upwardly directed passageway 20 which is sealed from the eye of the fan chamber by the downwardly directed wall of passageway The walls oi' body portion `I and also walls I 0 and l are intersected by, and end in, the same horizontal plane, as is clearly evident in the drawings. By this construction the chambers II, I I are left open at their tops and openings 2l and 22 are formed into the passageway 2Ii and chamber' 9. Opening` 22, being at the peripheryv of fan chamber 9, functions as the exhaust outlet of that chamber.

Within the container! is removably carried an air pervious dust bag 25 of smaller diameter than the container and formed of fabric or similar suitable filtering material. A bag-carrying ring 25 is seated in the inner end of the container y opening 22.

4 and is provided with an air seal 21 at its forward edge which contacts the edge of the flange I 8, when the container 4 is secured in place. The bag 25 itseltis so shaped that it extends substantially the entirelength of the container -4 and is ofsuch dimension that when expanded it substantially iills the container but is spaced from the walls thereof by an appreciable distance-as is clearly shown in Figure 2.3 The illtering bag is of ordinary material and is adapted to be removed from container 4 and cleaned and replaced if desired. The open-topped casing I is closed by a valve member 25 the peripheral edges of the valve making line' contact with the casing and enclosing the tops of chambers II, II and the openings 2I and 22. The valve is formed with an inlet 29 provided with a spring-pressed detent 3| which functions to removably lock in place the elongated ilexible dusting tool Ahose 30. The inlet 29 opens into an inner valve chamber 32 in the member 25, which in fact is the mouth f of the hose 30, and which is so shaped that its edges are adapted to seat upon and make contact with the edges oi' either opening 2I or exhaust 'Ihe interior of member 28 outside of chamber I2 is shaped as a connecter passageway so that with chamber 32 overlying either opening 2l or 22 the remainder ofthe valve interconnects the other three openings.

Valve member 28 is rotatably mounted on the casingv I by means of a manually operable bolt 33 which extends downwardly through the member to seat in screw-threaded relationship in the `central transversely extending wall 8. 'I'he valve :nayv assume either of two positions which are spaced degrees, as shown in Figures 2 and 8.

the boa being provided wim a winged neas to enable the operator to unscrew it or to rotate it to clamping position. As the edges of valve 28 and of the open top of the casing all lie in a single` plane it is obvious that the rotation of the valve is easily accomplished.

With the .cleaner in operation, a result accomplished by closingthe motor switch 35, the rotating fan draws air i'rom the inlet passageway Ill,` through its eye I8, and then exhausts it through the exhaust port 22. The reduced pressure in passageway Il eifects a reduction of pressure in container 4 and air is drawn through the inlet openingv2l, through the passageway 2l, and through the air-pervious bag 25.

If the operator desires that the cleaner function as a blowing unit he temporarily unscrews the bolt 33 suiliciently to permit the manual rotation of the valve 28 so that the chamber 32, the mouth of the-dusting tool hose, seats over the exhaust opening 22 of the fan chamber. When the cleaner is so inter-related the air enters the openings I2, I2 of the chambers II, II, passes through those chambers into the main part of the valve 28 and is directed thereby vinto the opening 2i leading to the passageway 20. Passageway' 20 directs the air into the bag 25 and container 4 from whence it passes into the passageway I4 leading tothe fan chamber. The rotating fan exhausts the air through the outlet 22 and into th'e dusting tool conduit 29 via the chamber 32.

' To convert the cleaner from a blowing to a suction-creating unit, the operator need only adjust the valve by rotating it 180 degrees angularly about the bolt 33, so that the chamber 32 seats on the opening 2I which is connected, as set forth supra, to the eye or low pressure point of the fan chamber. With the valve so positioned the air exhausted from the fan/chamber exhaust port 22 is directed by the main part of valve 28 into the chambers II, II from whence it escapes to atmosphere via the ports I2, I2.

To aid in the quiet operation of the machine the chambers II, II are lined with a sound-deadening lining 31 which is Wear resistant and embodies sound-absorbing qualities. Also the main part of valve chamber 28, the part which always opens to the chambers II, II, is lined with this material. Further noise elimination is accomplished by providing projections 35, 3l etc. in the chambers II, II which serve to form a tortuous pathway for the air in traversing thelength of the chambers. I'he presence of the sounddeadening lining and of the projections making the tortuous passageway serves to give to the chambers II, II the function of muiilers.

I claim: y

1. In a portable suction cleaner, the combination of a fan chamber having an inlet and an outlet. a fan in said fan chamber, a motor for driving said fan, a dust bag, a sealed container enclosing said dust bag Aand having an intake passageway connected with the interior of said bag and an opening directly to the inlet to said fan chamber, a sound-deadening air passageway open at one end to the atmosphere and adapted to have its'opposite end connected to said intake to or said outlet from said fan chamber, and valve means having a dusting tool connection andadapted to be positioned to' connect said hose connection with said outlet or said inlet.

2. In aportable suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a mufiier, a dusting tool hose connection, and valve means to connect selectively said hose connection to the high or low pressure points of said suction-creating means and said muilier to the remaining point.

3. In a-portable cleaner, a casing having its major axis extended horizontally, said casing having two upwardly facing openings substantially midway between its ends, a suction-creating and air-filtering unit in said casing with its suction and pressure points connected to said openings, a muiiler open to atmosphere having an opening adjacent said openings, a manually adjustable valve element seated on said casing at said openings, a dusting tool hose connected to said element, said element selectively connecting said hose to one of said two openings and said muiler to the other.

4. In a portable suction cleaner, suction-creating means, air-ltering means connected to the suction side of said means, movable valve means connected to the intake of said ltering means and to the pressure side of said suction-creating means and including a hose connection, and a dusting tool hose connected to said connection and movable with said valve means, said valve means being adjustable to connect said hose to the intake of said ltering means or to the pressure side of said suction-creating means, and a sounddeadening air passageway connected to said valve means and adapted to be connected thereby to the intake of said air-filtering means or to the pressure side of said suction-creating means when the hose is connected to said pressure side or to said intake respectively. y

5. In a portable suction cleaner, suction-creating means, air-ltering means connected to the suction side of said means, movable valve means connected to thev intake of said filtering means and to the pressure side of said suction-creating means, and including a hose connection, a dusting tool hose connected to said connection and movable with said valve means, and a muillerconnected to said valve means, said-valve means.

means, respectively,-andvice versa.

6. In a portable suction cleaner; acentral body"-v portion including r alanV chamber-with-inlet and exhaust ports, a first air passageway, ay second air passageway connected to saidYinlet-portfand" a mumer; a motor casing carried-at one side of said central body portion; a drive shaft extended into said chamber; a fan on said shaft; a sealed container upon the opposite side of said central body portion from said motor casing and open to said air passageways; a lter member in said container and positioned functionally between it and said first air passageway; said second air passageway connecting said container exteriorly of said filter member to the inletport of said ian chamber; and valve means provided with a dusting tool hose connection and connected to said first air passageway, to said exhaust port, and to said muiiier; said valve being adapted to connect selectively said rst air passageway or said exhaust port to said muilier, and said hose connection to said exhaust port or to said rst air passageway, respectively. l

7. In a suction cleaner of the type having suction-creating means, an inlet passageway and an outlet passageway connected to said means, and a muiiler; a valve having a dusting tool hose passageway and a connecter passageway, and means movably mounting said valve, said connecter passageway of said valve being adapted to connect either said inlet or outlet passageway to` said muftler vand said dusting tool passageway being adapted to connect to either said inlet or outlet passageway.

8. In a suction cleaner, the combination of a cylindric casing including a fan chamber, a dirt receptacle communicating with said fan chamber, a iilter member interposed between the interior of said receptacle and said fan chamber, said casing being provided with an intake passage leading to said receptacle, an outlet passage leading from said fan chamber and a muiiler chamber communicating with the atmosphere, said chamber together'with the outer end ofithe intake passage to s/aidfreceptacle and the outlet passage from said-fan chamber terminating in adjacent :ports'i the wall of said casing, and a combined DONALD G. sii/ranma. A.

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